Marijuana Use Before Pregnancy May Double Risk of Premature Birth

Women who use marijuana prior to getting pregnant more than double their risk of giving birth to a premature baby, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Adelaide. The purpose of the study was to investigate various factors that increase the risk of a premature birth, and researchers looked at 3,234 healthy pregnant women who did not have any previous children.

Among the risk factors that increased the risk for a giving birth prematurely were the usual suspects such as a family history of low birth weight babies, pre-eclampsia, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and high blood pressure. Most surprising, however, was the finding that mothers who used marijuana before pregnancy had a more than doubled risk of giving birth premature than women who had never used the drug. Specifically, as Medical Daily reported, the use of marijuana prior to conceiving increased the risk of preterm birth from the average of 7 percent or 8 percent to between 15 percent and 20 percent.

The researchers concluded that regular marijuana use up to the time of conception was a "significant and strong risk factor" for premature birth. The reason for the increased risk was outside the scope of the study. More research needs to be conducted to determine whether additional lifestyle factors are the cause for the increased risk or whether some toxic effect of the marijuana is to blame for the higher rate of preterm birth.

Regardless of the cause, the message is clear: Using marijuana before pregnancy is dangerous. Premature birth is associated with a number of health problems for the baby including slow growth, learning difficulties, developmental delays, and even death. I personally have never taken any illegal drugs including marijuana, but I hope that the results of this study positive influence other girls and women to steer clear of the substance. Giving birth prematurely is so risky. Not using marijuana before pregnancy is one simple way to reduce the risk of a preterm birth.

Was your baby born prematurely? Tell us below in the comments section!

Written by Heather Johnson

Heather Johnson is a librarian, a writer, a wife, and a first-time mother of a little girl. She has BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing, an MS in library and information science, and an MS in English with an emphasis in linguistics. Her writing passions include breastfeeding, natural childbirth, homebirth, vaccination, and cloth diapers, and her hobbies include cooking and gardening. She has previously written for What to Expect and currently writes for The Parenting Patch: Where Parents Grow.